Semiautomatic turfing device



June 6, 1933.

E. J. GEARHART SEMIAUTOMATIC TURFING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 6, 1933 more: I. GEARHAR'T; or ornhnrimin, rmsnvm semiautomat c TURFING DEVICE Application filed au ust 11, 1931. "Serial no. 556,452.

The invention forming the subject matter of thisapplication is a turfingdevice designed to be operated semi-automatically n forming loops of yarn or other material 1n :1 base fabric. The main object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose described which can be used with very little eflort to embroider fabric with designs of all kinds in imitation of the best hand woven tapestry.

.Other objects of the invention will become apparentvandlwill in part be pointed out as the detailed description thereof proceeds. r p a In the drawings: i Figure 1 is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of the invention,- in which the device is adapted to carry a spool of $11k or yarn to be used in turfing a p a Figure 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the device showing the several parts in the positions occupied at the start of a turfing operation;

Figure 3 isaufragmentary vertical sec- 7 tion showing the turfingelements of the device in the positions occupied at the second stage of operation immediately following that illustrated in Figure 2; p l

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure ,1 showing the parts relatively positioned at the completion of one looping operation (third stage) with the needle positioned to enter the next hole in the fabric preparatory to the formation of the next loop; '1

Figure 5 is a similar section showingythe parts of the device with the looper element a holding a loop inone hole of the fabric while the needle carries the yarn or thread into the next hole preparatory to forming the next succeeding loop;

Figure 6 is a similar section illustrating the looper element withdrawn from the last formed loop, and with all, the parts except a the locking device occupying the position illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure? is a horizontal section taken on theline7 7 of Figure 2; y l i j a i i Figure 8: is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Figure2; a

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-- 9of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a longitudinalvertical sectijozli taken on the line 1010 of Figure 2; an a a y l a l i I F igure 11; is a fragmentary sectional detail oi a modified form of the invention.

PAT ENT OFFICE As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises a handle in the iorm of a tubel closed at its upper end by a cap 2which may be provided with a spindle 3, as shown inFigurelQ, to receive spools of material adapted for use in .aturfing operation by this device. the tube- 1 is slotted between the upper and lower ends tliereofto receive, a rack t which fitstightly in the slot and is brazed or otherwise suitably secured in that slot to the tube 1-. :Theupper end of the rack 4 terminates about one quarter of the length of the tube 1 from the top thereof; while the other end of the rack llterminatesat about onethird of the length of thetube from the bottom thereof.- Theseproportions are not fixed, since they depend upon the size of the device as a whole thereby prevented from turning in the tube 1 during. their relative sliding movements. Theupper end of the tube 5? isprovided with two segmental plugs 7 and 8 having their plane faces 9 and-1 l0 in alinernent'with the edges of the slot 6, and; consequently, in alinement with theopposite sides ofithe rack 4a. A pinion 11 is pivoted in the plugs 7 and S and: the teeth 0t this pinion are inniesh with the teethof the rack 4 when the-parts are properly assembled. 1 a l a Thelower end l2 of the slot 6 is adapted to engage the lower'end of the rack 4 where itprojects into the slot 6-to serve as a stop for limiting the inward movement of the tube 5 within the tube A coil spring13 is interposed between the inner face of the cap 2 and the top-of plugs 7 and 8, flush with the top of the tube 5, and serves yieldingly to resistthe inward. movement of the tube 5 within the tube 1. The outward movement the slot has the needle18 suitably secured between the side walls and against the end wall 19 of the slot as by soldering, riveting or brazing. The needle 18 is provided with the usual point 20 for entering the fabric and with the usual eye 21 near the end thereof to'receive material, such as yarn or silk, to be used in the turfing operation. The rear wall of the needle is substantially coincident with the axis of the tubes 1 and 5; that is, it is at about the axial center of the needle holder 16. This rear wall of the'needle is provided-with a groove 22 in which slides the thin rectangular projecting element 23 of a loop bar or looper 24 which is provided at its connection with theelement 23 with an inclined sl1oulder25.

The looper 24 and element 23 slide freely within the groove 22 of the needle and the looper extends upwardly into the tube 1 to be connected to or formed integral with a rack 26 which also meshes with the pinion 11 carried by the plugs 7 and'8 at the upper end of the tube 5. A tension spring 27 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the rack 26 and is wound around the loop er 24. The spring 27 is provided at its lower end with the hook 28 adapted to engage an eye 29, secured to the upper end of the needle holder 16. It is therefore to be noted here that the hook 28 and the eye 29 are laterally displaced relative to the looper 24. This displacement serves to hold the lower part-of the looper in constant sliding contact with the end wall of slot 22 formed in the rear wall of-the needle -18.-

The outer tube 1 is provided at its lower end with a band 30 which extends around the tube 1 and has its ends spaced apart to form projecting lugs 31 and 32 between which is pivoted a bell crank locking device 33. The device 33 is pivoted at its bend on a pin 34 which extends through the lugs 31 and 32. The arm 35 of the bell crank locking device extends through a slot formed in'the lower end of the tube 1 and has the end thereof lying in the path ofmovement of a locking aperture 36 formed in the inner tube 5.

The locking member 33 is shown in locking position in Figure 2 of the drawings,- with the end of -the outer arm 37 in contact with the outer tube 1. It will be obvious fromfthe drawings that as the tube 5 slides'inwardly in the tube 1 the arm 35 will become disengaged from the locking'aperture'36, and the-arm 37 will move the arm 35 to a position free of the locking aperture 36 and will permit the tube 5 to slide outwardly in the tube 1. The outer end of the arm 37 is curved to form a loop, adapted to receive the yarn or thread in the manner of the usual tension device common in sewing machines and implements of this kind.

It will be apparent from Figure 9 of the drawings, that the looper 24 has a fair amount of lateral play in the slot17 of the needle holder so that it maybe separated at various slight distances from the needle. The degree of separation of the needle from the looper, after the completion of the looping opera-v tion, regulates the distance between adjacent loops and this distance may be controlled by the adjustment of a set screw 38 threaded through the tube 5 and extending into the slot17- of the needle holder in order to contact with the back of the looper 24 and limit its outward movement relative to the needle 18. By this means the spacing between adjacent loops may be minutely regulated.

In the operationof the device: The parts are locked initially in the relative'positions shown in Figure 2. In this position, the eye 21 of the needle 18 is unobstructed and may be-readily threaded. The lower end of the looper projection 23 is shown raised clear above the eye 21, and therefore, offers no obstruction to threading. ith the parts in this locked position, the needle is forced into the fabric 7' until the lower end 39 of the needle holder just touches the face of the fabric, which is, of course, assumed to be stretched taut in all directions in a suitable frame- It will be evident from Figure 1, that if the end 39 of the needle holder 16, which is fixed in the end of tube 5, pressed against the taut fabric, the tube 5 will move further into the tube 1 against the pressure of spring 13. This inward movement of tube 5 will cause anticlockwise rotation of pinion 11 on the fixed rack 4, and will also cause the looper 24 to slide further into the inner tube 5 and move the end of projection 23 still further from the yarn passed through the eye of the needle at the same time the locking aperture 36 moves the arm 35 of the bell crank locking lever 33 until the weight of arm 37 moves the end of arm 35 out of engagement with said aperture. The arm 37 then assumes the horizontal position shown in Figure 6 and rests against the stop 40 to serve as a thread guide.

If now pressure be released from the end of tube 1, with end 39 supported by the taut fabric, the spring 13 will cause tube 1 to rise on tube 5, and in doing. so will move rack 4 relative to tube 5. This relative movement causes clockwise rotation of pinion 11, which therefore, slides rack 26 and looper 24 downwardly in the stationary tube 5, and in contact with the back of the needle, into the same hole occupied by said Then the continuedpressure of spring 13 needle. This movement of the looper along the back of the needle holds the yarn y as loop'in the said hole in the manner illustra-t'ed in Figure 3. k l I The movement of the looper' along the back ofneedle 18 continues, with theneedle still in thesame hole, until the shoulder 25 of thelooper contacts with the taut fabric.

causes the entire tubular structure to rise upwardly on the fabric-supported looper until the point of the needle 18 clears the fabric f,as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the thickness of the yarn between the needle and looper causes the needle to be slightly stepped forward from the looper, and this thickness may be used as a gage for automatically determining the separation of the loops in the finished work. However, the operator may swing the device bodily forward on the supporting looper until the back ofthe' looper contacts with the stop screw '38 (seeFig. 9), which-may he set as already described, to limit the distance between successive loops in the fabric. A'lea-f spring can be secured to the inner face of looper 24 toresiliently hold the looper 24 away from needle 19 forthe purpose of spacing the loops in the fabric instead of the yarnor thread forcing the looper away from the needle1 9' as disclosed in the foregoing paragraph.

From the position, shown in Figure 4, the tubular structure, supported Wholly by the shoulder 25 of the looper, is forced toward the fabricunti'l the needle enters the next hole. .This downward movement of the needle continues until the end39 of the needle holder contacts with the fabric 1. In the meantime the looper remains in the previously formedloop, since it is now the only means for supporting the entire device on thetaut fahric. touches thefabric, the looper and in separate holes in the fabric. pressureon the upper end of the tubular structure then causes withdrawalof the looper until the lower end of the looper needle are is) projection 23 is well above the eye of the needle and lies in the groove formed in the back of the needle. Thisfinal position is shown in Figure6,andis the same position 'asthe parts shown in Figure 2 occupy immediately after the r lease of the locking mechanism. p g It will be evident fromthe disclosure so far in this application, that the first half ofthe loopin'g'operation is performed by {366 downward pressure of the hand of the op top of" tube of the device. This downward pressure ofthe hand of the operator stores up energy in the springs 13 and. 27 which then automatically perform the other halfof the looping operat on upon release of pressure on the end oftube l.

When the end 39 just Continued 7 The operation of this device is performed by a series of intermittent thrusts toward the fabric, with the return movements effected automatically. This renders the looping a one hand operation, which canbe effected very rapidly and without the necessity of the operator actually seeing and selecting the particular holes inxuthe fabric to he looped through. The operator .merely guides the device in any desired direction while applyingintermittent pressure on the end thereof, andcan perform the'looping operation practically as fast as a machine can stitch. i

Where the base fabric is very fine it may be necessary to prevent relative sliding'movements of the tubes 1 and 5 until the: needle shall have fully entered the fabric. For this purpose the outer tube 1 may be provided with any desired number of bevel edged apertures 41 conveniently arranged and designed to permit the thumb or fingers of the This function may also be performed by providing the outer tube 1 with a slot '42 adapted to register with a slot 43 formed in the inner tube 5; a leaf spring 44 has one end secured to the tube 1 and has the body thereof bent through the slot 42 to enter theslot 4S and engage the end 45 of slot 43 to form a positive lock for moving the tube 5 downwardly with tube 1. In order to release the tube 5 from tube 1, a trip rod 46 is slidably mounted in a groove 47 formed in tube 5; and" the lower end of this trip rod is bent and bifurcated to project below the lower end of the needle holder 16 so as to oontactwith the fabric slightly in advance of said lower end and trip the spring 44 to permit the tube 5 to slide inwardly of the tube 1 as the end of holder 16 is pressedagainst the fabric. The operation of this locking mechanism will be obvious from inspection of Figure 111 of the drawings. Strictly speaking, the needle of this device is thelooper since the needle forms the loop. However, the-loop bar 24 is commonly referredto in this art as-a looper. The 4 loop bar -or looper does not form the loop, it merely holds the loop after it has been formed by the needle. It is therefore, to be understood that wherever the term looper is used in the specification and claims that it does not refer to the needle but does refer to the loop holder or loop bar 24.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, itj should tion thereto, since Various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from be-understood that I do not limit myinventhe spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a turfing device, a handle, a'rack secured to said, handle, a needle holder reciprocably mounted in said handle and having a needle projecting from one end thereof, a pinion journaled on said needle holder and meshing with said rack, a loop bar re-v ciprocably mounted in said handle and having a rack meshing with said pinion, and yielding means for moving the needle holder in one direction in said handle.

2. In a turfing device, a handle having a rack secured thereto, a needle holder reciprocable relative to said handle and having a needle projecting from one end thereof, a pinion rotatable on said needle holder and meshing with said rack, a loop bar reciprocable independently of said needle holder relative to said handle, a rack secured to said loop bar and meshing with said pinion, and a spring engaging said holder to maintain the holder and loop bar normally projecting from said handle.

3. A turfing device comprising a tube, a rack secured to a wall of said tube and par allel to the axis thereof, a needle holder provided with a slot to slide along said rack, a pinion journaled on said needle holder and meshing with said rack, a loop bar slidable in said tube independently of said needle holder and having a rack meshing with said pinion, a spring engaging the inner end of said needle holder to maintain the holder normally projecting from said tube, and yielding means for holding the loop bar in sliding contact with said needle.

4. A turfing device comprising a handle formed. as a tube, a rack secured to the wall of said tube parallel to the axis thereof, a needle holder mounted to slide in said tube and having a needle projecting from one end thereof, a loop bar slidably mounted in said tiibe independently of the needle holder and having a rack secured thereto, a pinion rotatably mounted on said needle holder and meshing with each of said racks, yielding means engaging the inner end of the needle holder for maintaining the needle holder and loop bar normally projected from one end of said tube, and locking means engageable with said needle holder when retracted in predetermined position within said tube to lock the needle holder and loop bar retracted within saidtube.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 of means for holding said loop bar in yielding sliding contact with said needle. I

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 of a spring having one end secured to said needle holder and the other end tosaid loop bar to hold the loop bar and needle in sliding contact with each other.

7 A turfing device comprising a handle having a rack fixed thereto, a needle holder anda loop bar reciprocable independently of each other Within said handle, a needle fixed to said holder, said loop bar having a rack secured thereto, a pinion meshing with each of said racks and rotatably mounted on said holder, a spring in said handle engaging one end of the needle holder, means for holding the loop bar in sliding contact with said needle, said loop bar having a shoulder adapted to rest on the fabric being turfed to support the needle elevated above said fabric, and means rotatably mounted on said handle for locking the needle holder and loop bar in a predetermined position on said handle. 7

8. In a fabric turfing device; a needle holder having a needle projecting from one end thereof; a handle mounted to reciprocate on said holder; a loop bar reciprocable in said handle and in sliding contact with said needle; and means on said holder, handle and loop bar, operated by the reciprocation of the handle on said holder, for reciprocating the loop bar along the needle in the directions opposite to the directions of reciprocation of the handle on said holder. Y

9. In a fabric turfing device; a needle hold er having a needle projecting from one end thereof; a handle mounted to reciprocate on said holder; a loop bar reciprocable in said handle and in sliding contact with said needle; yielding means for moving the handle in one direction on said holder, said handle being movable in the opposite direction manually; and means-on said holder, handle and loop bar operated by the reciprocation of the handle on said holder, for reciprocating the loop bar along the needle in the directions opposite to the directions of reciprocationof the handle on said holder.

10. In a fabric turfing device; a needle holder having a needle projecting from one end thereof; a handle mounted to reciprocate on said holder; a loop bar reciprocable in said handle and in sliding contact with said needle; means for automatically moving the handle in one direction on saidholder; yielding means connecting the loop bar to said holder and acting in opposition to the first named means; and means on said holder, handleand loop bar, operated by the reciprocation of the handle on said holder for reciprocating the loop bar along the needle in the directions opposite to the directions of reciprocation .of the handle on said holder.

11. In a fabric turfing device; a needle holder having a needle projecting from one end thereof a handle mounted to reciprocate on said holder, a loop bar reciprocable in said handle and in sliding contact with said needle, yielding means connecting said handle and loop bar to said holder for automatically slidingsaid handle and loop bar in opposite directions relative to said holder, and means on said holder, handle and loop bar, operated by the reciprocation of the handle on said holder, for reciprocating the loop bar along the needle in the directions opposite to the directions of reciprocation of the bandle on said holder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EMORY J. GEARI-IART, 

